Quinazoline-tethered hydrazone: A versatile scaffold toward dual anti-TB and EGFR inhibition activities in NSCLC

Trifluoromethylcinnamanilides - Effective dual inhibitors of Mycobacterium smegmatis and Plasmodium falciparum

A series of eighteen new 2-trifluoromethylcinnamanilides (1a-r) were synthesized by microwave synthesis and investigated for their antimycobacterial and antimalarial activities, along with the complementary (2E)-3-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-N-arylprop-2-enanilides (2a-r) and (2E)-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-N-arylprop-2-enanilides (3a-r) prepared earlier. All the compounds were evaluated in vitro against Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC 700084 and a chloroquine-sensitive strain of Plasmodium falciparum 3D7/MRA-102. The most active compounds against M. smegmatis (MIC values in the range of 1.17-11.1 µM, more effective than rifampicin) were anilides substituted by 3,5-CF3 (1q, 2q, 3q), 4-OCF3 (1k), and 4-CF3 (1j, 2j). The most effective agents against P. falciparum (IC50 values in the range of 0.32-4.5 µM, comparable to chloroquine) were anilides substituted by 3,5-CF3 (1q, 2q, 3q), 2-Br-4-OCF3 (1r), 4-CF3 (1j, 3j), 4-F (2d), 4-Cl (2g), 2-Cl (1e, 2e). A preliminary in vitro cytotoxicity screening was assessed using human leukemic cell lines and human dermal fibroblasts, revealing the toxic effect of 3,5-CF3 substituted anilides. On the other hand, the other investigated agents showed insignificant cytotoxic effects. Stability assays using rat liver microsomes demonstrated that compounds 1r (R = 2-Br-4-OCF3) and 1q (R = 3,5-CF3) are neither metabolized nor affect cytochrome P450 metabolizing capacity in vitro. Furthermore, complex in silico studies were performed - a combined approach (docking/MD simulations/QTAIM calculations) helped to define the molecular interactions that were applied during the binding of active agents and the subsequent inhibition of their molecular targets - InhA (activity against M. smegmatis) and arginase (activity against P. falciparum). In conclusion, promising active agents with dual antimycobacterial and antimalarial effects were identified.

New 6-nitro-4-substituted quinazoline derivatives targeting epidermal growth factor receptor: design, synthesis and in vitro anticancer studies

Aim: Twenty compounds of 6-nitro-4-substituted quinazolines were synthesized.Materials & methods: The new derivatives were evaluated for their epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitory activity. The most potent derivatives were assessed for their cytotoxicity against colon cancer and lung cancer cells, in addition to normal fibroblast cells.Results & discussion: compound 6c showed a superior to nearly equal cytotoxicity in comparison to gefitinib, it also revealed a good safety profile. Compound 6c caused a cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in addition to induction of apoptosis. A molecular docking study was conducted on the most active compounds to gain insights of their binding mode in the active site of EGFR enzyme besides ADME prediction of their physicochemical properties and drug likeness profile.

Novel 2-[thio]acetamide linked quinazoline/1,2,4-triazole/chalcone hybrids: Design, synthesis, and anticancer activity as EGFR inhibitors and apoptotic inducers

Novel triazoloquinazolines carrying the 2-[thio]acetamide entity (4 and 5a-d) and triazoloquinazoline/chalcone hybrids incorporating the 2-[thio]acetamide linker (8a-b and 9a-f) were developed as anticancer candidates. NCI screening of the synthesized compounds at 10 μM concentration displayed growth inhibition not only up to 99.74% as observed for 9a but also a lethal effect could be achieved as stated for compounds 9c (RPMI-8226 and HCT-116) and 8b, 9a, and 9e on the HCT-116 cell line. The antiproliferative activity was determined for the chalcone series on three cell lines: RPMI-8226, HCT-116, and MCF-7. Compounds 8b, 9a, 9b, and 9f were the most active ones. To understand the mechanistic study, the inhibitory effect on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase was evaluated. The results stated that the activity of compound 8b (IC50 = 0.07 μM) was near that of the reference drug erlotinib (IC50 = 0.052 μM) whereas compound 9b (IC50 = 0.045 μM) was found to be more potent than erlotinib. Both compounds 8b and 9b were selected for cell cycle analysis and apoptotic assays. Moreover, molecular docking results of the selected chalcone hybrids showed high binding scores and good binding affinities especially for 8b and 9b, which were consistent with the biological activity (EGFR).

Novel N-pyrocatechoyl and N-pyrogalloyl hydrazone antioxidants endowed with cytotoxic and antibacterial activity

Over the years, pharmacological agents bearing antioxidant merits arose as beneficial in the prophylaxis and treatment of various health conditions. Hazardous effects of radical species hyperproduction disrupt normal cell functioning, thus increasing the possibility for the development of various oxidative stress-associated disorders, such as cancer. Contributing to the efforts for efficient antioxidant drug discovery, a thorough in vitro and in silico assessment of antioxidant properties of 14 newly synthesized N-pyrocatechoyl and N-pyrogalloyl hydrazones (N-PYRs) was accomplished. All compounds exhibited excellent antioxidant potency against the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. The extensive in silico analysis revealed multiple favorable features of N-PYRs to inactivate harmful radical species, which supported the obtained in vitro results. Also, in silico experiments provided insights into the preferable antioxidant pathways. Prompted by these findings, the cytotoxicity effects and the influence on the redox status of cancer HCT-116 cells and healthy fibroblasts MRC-5 were evaluated. These investigations exposed four analogs exhibiting both cytotoxicity and selectivity toward cancer cells. Furthermore, the frequently uncovered antimicrobial potency of hydrazone-type hybrids encouraged investigations on G+ and G- bacterial strains, which revealed the antibacterial potency of several N-PYRs. These findings highlighted the N-PYRs as excellent antioxidant agents endowed with cytotoxic and antibacterial features.

In silico drug design strategies for discovering novel tuberculosis therapeutics

INTRODUCTION

Tuberculosis remains a significant concern in global public health due to its intricate biology and propensity for developing antibiotic resistance. Discovering new drugs is a protracted and expensive endeavor, often spanning over a decade and incurring costs in the billions. However, computer-aided drug design (CADD) has surfaced as a nimbler and more cost-effective alternative. CADD tools enable us to decipher the interactions between therapeutic targets and novel drugs, making them invaluable in the quest for new tuberculosis treatments.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, the authors explore recent advancements in tuberculosis drug discovery enabled by in silico tools. The main objectives of this review article are to highlight emerging drug candidates identified through in silico methods and to provide an update on the therapeutic targets associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

EXPERT OPINION

These in silico methods have not only streamlined the drug discovery process but also opened up new horizons for finding novel drug candidates and repositioning existing ones. The continued advancements in these fields hold great promise for more efficient, ethical, and successful drug development in the future.